Via How and why China will flood the gold market:
As you read this, the Chinese government is doing an extraordinary thing… something nearly unheard of in the modern world.
It is encouraging citizens to put at least 5% of their savings into precious metals.
The Chinese government is telling people gold and silver are good investments that will safeguard their wealth. After last year’s meltdown in the stock market, people believe it. After all, Chinese citizens don’t receive government retirement money… and they don’t have company pension plans like people in many other countries do.
This is why folks in China are lining up outside of banks, post offices, and the new official mint stores to buy gold and silver (they especially like silver because it’s cheaper per ounce).
